adderall website | Advocacy experts warn millennials about the dangers of Adderall.

Advocacy experts warn millennials about the dangers of Adderall.





Amphetamine is often prescribed to help children and young adults manage attention deficit disorder, or ADD, so they can focus better. But over time, the stimulant can become addictive.

The CDC reported in 2011 that 11% of school-age children were prescribed a medication to treat ADD or ADHD.

According to a survey conducted by the Partnership for Drug Free Kids, one in five teenagers believes that it is okay to abuse prescription drugs, as long as they do not do so to "get high".

The survey also showed that one in five college students admitted to abusing prescription stimulants at least once in their lives.

And now, as millennials enter the workforce, addiction experts are seeing that Adderall's use of them is increasing.

John Mabry started using Adderall to concentrate and counteract the effects of alcoholism and an addiction to a pain medication that began after a devastating car accident that caused the loss of his leg in 2000.

"I needed him to concentrate and, before I knew it, I was addicted to him," Mabry told News 2. "It took me several years to admit that I had a problem and ask for help."

Doctors say that when used by a person diagnosed with ADHD or ADD, Adderall can be very effective in facilitating concentration, but when used by someone without these diagnoses, it acts as a stimulant and can be addictive.

"We are seeing more people coming and requesting medications for ADD or ADHD," said Dr. Mary Romano, assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Department of Adolescent and Young Adult Health. "We do not want to prescribe only the drug. There should also be a mental health treatment plan. "

Dr. Romano said that younger children often start taking the medication when they are first diagnosed, but older adolescents and young adults may not have ADD or ADHD.

"Sometimes it can be depression or lack of sleep which can cause concentration problems," he said. "Medicine alters the functioning of a person's brain, so it's not good for people who do not have a legitimate need for medicine."

She continued: "It's like any other drug. It should only be used by the person to whom it is prescribed. "

Mabry noted that when he used Adderall it was with a prescription. However, I was compensating for the side effects of alcohol and drug abuse.

"There were days when I could not concentrate because I was hanged or I had gone to sleep very late the night before," he said. "It surprises you and it's not just people who live under a bridge who are having addiction problems." He continued: "I appear to be an American with great success, but I am like everyone else who struggles with addiction."

Mabry, Manager of Strategic Alliances for Addiction Campuses, based in Brentwood, has been sober for five years.

Mabry and his wife Sarah share the story of their family in a special blog called "Mabry Living" that they manage and also have a YouTube channel where they share the lighter side of their family life.

"My wife came to a point where she said we have to talk about this," said Mabry. "She started a Facebook group and we can also listen to people who are facing what we face as a family."

Addiction Campuses offers addiction treatment programs for illegal drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol addiction in facilities throughout the country, according to the organization's website.